Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-07-01

rose like Beauty beautiful Marshal
Mel rose couldn't think OF any
thing lovelier than that
That is a large pale yellow rose.
isn't itP can't get it to grow here"
We had sauntered back to the din
ing-room window, and there. staring
out upon US in strange fixed way,
was Mrs. Rayner. She continued to
look at US. and especially at me. as if
fascinated. until We were close to the
window, when she turned with start;
and when we entered the room the in
tent expression had faded from her
lusterless ewes. and she was her usual
lifeless self again.
At dinner time Mr. Ravner did not
appear; ! was too shy to ask Mrs. Ray
ner the reason. and could only guess.
when tea time came and again there
was no place laid for him, that he had
gone away somewhere. was sure of
it when he had not reappeared the next
morning. and then became conscious
of slow but sure change in Mrs. Ray
ners's manner. She did not become
talkative or animated like any other
WOulaIl, Uut IL W dS ds IL Ststtut Va
stone had become q statue of flesh,
feeling the life in its own veins and
grown conscious of the life around it.
This change brought one strange symp-
tom; she had grown nervous. Instead
of wearing always an unrufiled stOlid-
ity. she started at any unexpected
sound. This change must certainly. I
thought, be due to her husbands de-
parture; but it was hard to tell whether
his absence made her glad or sorry. or
whether any such vivid feeling as glad
ness or grief caused the alteration in
her manner.
On the second day Of Mr.. Eayner's
absence Sarah came to the school-room,
saying that gentleman wished to
speak to me. In the drawing-room
found Mr.. Laurence Reade.
Il have come on business with Mr.
Rayner. but a. he is out ventured to
trouble YOU with q commission for him.
Miss Christie
II don't know anything about bust
ness" l began. Perhaps Mrs. Ray
ner"-
20 l couldn't trouble her with so
small matter" And he disclosed the
nature of his errand. which was of
trifling importance. Considering this
fact he occupied a great deal of time in
explaining it. He talked about Sun
day, and hoped had not caught cold;
and then he went away. And found.
by the amount Of hemming Haidee had
got through when went back to the
| echOOl-rOOm, that he had STAYED quite
. long time.
Nothing happened after that until
Saturday. which was the day on which
generally wrote to my mother. After
tea took my desk upstairs to my own
room. had not written many lines
before l heard the faint tone Of . VIC
lin. Atfirst could distinguish only q
few notes Of the melody, then there
was 0 pause and . sound As Of An open
ing window; after that Sohubert's beau
tiful "Aufenthalt'' rang out clearly
and held me - il enchanted. 1t must
be Mr.. Rayner come back. ] had not
thought, when he said he played the
violin. that he could play like that. /
must hear better. shut up my half
finished letter hastily in my desk and
clipped downstairs with it. l stole
softly through the hall. and as l passed
the drawing-room door Mr.. Rayner.
without pausing in his playing, cried:
Come inw was startled by this. for
l made no noise; but l put my desk
down on the hall table and went in.
Mrs. Rayner and Haidce were there.
the former with . handsome shawl,
brought by her husband. on q chair be.
side her, and my pupil holding . big
wax doll which she was not looking at;
the child never cared for her dolls.
Mr.. Rayner, looking handsomer than
ever. sunburnt. with his chestnut hair
in disorder, smiled at me, and said,
without stopping the music:
II have not forgotten you. There is
a souvenir of your dear London fol
you." and nodded toward q rough
wooden box, nailed down.
Iopcned it with much difficulty; II
was from Convent Garden, and in it,
lying among ferns and cottonwood,
were dozen heavy beautiful Marshal
Mel roses. sat playing with them in
an ecstacy of pleasure, intoxicated viii
music and flowers, until Mr.. Raynel
put away his violin, and l rose to say
goodnight
LUCKY Beautye" he said. laughing
as he opened the door for me. ''Thers
is no beast for you to sacrifice yourself
to in return for the rOses.''
! l laughed back and left the room
and, putting my desk under my flow
ers, went toward the staircase. Saral
was standing near the foot Of it, wear
ing very forbidding expression.
$50 you're bewitched toor' she said
with short laugh. and turned sharpl,
toward the servants hall.
And l wondered what she meant
and why Mr.. and Mrs. Rayner kept il
their service such very rude and dis
agreeable person.
n -